2008 Subaru Forester Reviews, Pricing & Specs

If you are seeking an exciting and beautiful vehicle, look elsewhere. But if you want a form-over-function shape with the absolute maximum usable space, the Forester has you covered. The 2006 update brought a more upscale look to the model, with more chrome, plus body-coloured panels, but there’s no getting around the box factor. With slightly flared fenders and a boxy profile, the Subaru has a decidedly more muscular stance than its competition, and the Forester XT trim looks downright aggressive with its hood scoop and rear spoiler.

The Forester’s interior takes much of the same approach to styling, in that there’s plenty of substance but not much style. The dash is clean and uninterrupted by large buttons or displays. The simple three-spoke steering wheel can be had with audio controls in some trims, but even still the overall aesthetic is one of pure utility.

You can have your Forester any way you want it, as long as that way includes all-wheel drive (AWD). Beyond that, there are two engine and transmission choices: A 2.5-litre flat-four producing power specs of 173 horsepower, and a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 224 horsepower.

A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic gearbox is optional. The lesser engine does just fine around town, helping the boxy Forester jump into traffic with ease, but it’s on the highway where things start to fall flat. Reaching highway speeds is no problem but passing and accelerating from there can be a mixed bag. The basic flat-four engine lacks the top-end punch that it needs to be a truly competent highway cruiser.

The 224-horsepower engine has a turbocharger that makes its power delivery more dramatic. That gives the Forester an exciting driving dynamic that most of its competition lacks.

Though the Forester rides taller than a normal passenger car, it’s not plagued by the rough rides that many of its SUV brethren suffer. Over some road surfaces, the vehicle can feel unsettled and bumpy, but it never feels out of control. There’s a playful, spunky feeling to the Forester’s performance that larger SUVs can’t match, and the fact that there’s a manual transmission with a hill holder function on board will make enthusiasts happy. Alloy wheels are included on all trims but the base Forester 2.5X.

That somewhat unrefined on-road manner doesn’t translate to all-out off-road performance. Though the Forester’s got the ground clearance to make a serious run through the woods, there’s not enough rigidity and toughness in the suspension and body to make it a hardcore wheeler. That said, the Forester’s got enough ability to take its occupants further than most people will ever want to go in a vehicle, aided by the limited-slip differential that comes in at the XS grade. Coupled with a respectable 1,088-kilogram (2,400-pound) towing capacity, that capability makes the Forester a great right-sized utility vehicle.

Road and wind noise become a problem at higher speeds, possibly due to the Forester’s large-windowed shape, but almost certainly because there’s a lack of needed sound insulation. Under hard acceleration, both powertrains generate an excessive amount of noise, but the mechanical bits quiet down when cruising.

The Forester places usability at the top of its list of priorities, so nearly everything about it is designed with that in mind. The front seats are supportive, but lean to the sporty side, so there may be a heavier bolster than many drivers are accustomed to. Controls and buttons are placed well within reach of both front passengers, and the large windows allow for excellent outward visibility in all directions. In higher trims, leather upholstery gives the Forester a luxurious feel and upscale appearance, but the overall aesthetic is still one of maximum utility. Standard features like air conditioning, power functions, intermittent front and rear wipers, and roof rails help keep this Subaru livable.

Back seat passengers will find slightly less leg room than rivals, due to the Forester’s relatively short wheelbase. But the tall roof at least affords more than enough headroom for nearly any adult. Parents will find difficulty installing larger car seats for the same reason, as there will be competition between front passengers’ leg room and the car seat in back.

At least there’s plenty of cargo space to make up for it. With the rear seat up, the Forester offers 877 litres in the cargo area and more than 1,900 litres when it’s down.

Subaru has long placed safety at the forefront of its vehicle designs, and the Forester is proof of that commitment. The 2008 model was awarded a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning 'Good' marks in all categories from the ratings agency. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rated the 2008 Forester five stars in all crash test categories as well.

Standard safety gear includes dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags, active head restraints, and anti-lock brakes. Subaru’s symmetrical AWD system also helps the Forester remain on track when the weather gets rough.

The Forester’s base MSRP of $26,995 is very competitive when the Subaru is stacked up against its closest rivals. Standard AWD makes it a big value pick in comparison to compact sport utility vehicles like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4; neither of those have AWD standard. Adding trim levels and options package could take the Forester’s price up to nearly $40,000 when new, but at the higher levels the Subaru gets lost under more feature-packed offerings from Honda and Toyota.

The downside is the Forester's fuel economy. In its most basic form with a manual gearbox, the Forester is rated by Natural Resources Canada at 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 10.6 on the highway. Stepping up to the automatic transmission lowers city consumption by 0.2 of a litre and only dings highway consumption by an extra half a litre. When paired with a manual transmission, the XT models' turbo engine delivers 11.2 L/100 km city and 8.0 highway, but here the automatic transmission changes the numbers to 11.5/8.7.

The more powerful engine puts the Forester well behind the competition in fuel economy, and Subaru’s recommendation for premium fuel brings to the table yet another cost disadvantage.

Note: Images show a US model.